Combined lighting and ignition switch



Nov. 30 1926.

H. A. DOUGLAS 4 COMBINED LIGHTING AND IGNITION SWITCH Filed Jan. 27. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. A. DOUGLAS COMBINED LIGHTING AND IGNITION SWITCH Nov. 30 1926.

Filed Jan. '27. 1926' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q mom's 47 Patented Nov. 330, i926.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS, OF BROIFSOH, MIC/BEGAN.

COMBINED LIGHTING AND IGNITIUN SVJ'I'ICH.

Application filed January 27, 1926-.

My invention relates to combined switches for governing the ignition or power Controlling circuits and the lighting circuits of automotive vehicles and which combined switches employ rotatable switch handles for controlling the lighting circuits and locks having rotatable members for controlling the ignition or power controlling circuits.

My invention has for one of its objects the provision of an improved inter-relation of the lock with the switch member controlled thereby,for another object thefprovision of an improved iiitenrelation of the handle controlled switch member with the enclosing casing, and for its third object the provision of an improved arrangement for including fuses in the lighting circuits.

A switch structure, realizing the first two objects of my invention, is inclusive of a casing, a lock member upon an end wall of the casing and projecting into the easing, a rotatable, key operated locking device adjacent and having an element engageable with said lock member, a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn, the hub portion of the handle having a lock opening therethrough adjacent said lock member, a contact actuator coupled with said rotatable locking device, a second contact actuator, the handle having a connection joining it with the second contact actuator and passing through an opening formed in said end wall, contacts governed by said actuators, and contacts complemental to'the aforesaid contacts. The compleinental contacts which Jertain to the lighting circuits are desiraily carried by the cylindrical side wall of the casing, these contacts extending into the cz'ising to be engaged by the contacts governed by the handie and extending to the exterior of the casing where they constitute structural parts of fuse clips. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, these contacts constitute anchoring and circuit connecting devices for some of the fuse clips, the remaining fuse clips being also desirably anchored to the side wall of the casing.

The invention will be more fully explained in connection with the accompany ing drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front View of the preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the switch shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view,

on a larger scale, on line 3 3 of Fig. 1"

Serial No. 4,095.

Fig. l is a sectional view on line et-l of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 4, the rotatable lock member and key being shown in elevation; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on ine 66 of Fig. 4-, on a larger scale; Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7--'[ of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 8, on a larger scale; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the contact actuator governed by the handle; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing aportion of the front end wall and the hollow lock member constituting an inward continuation thereof, these parts being shown in separated relation; Fig. 12 is a sectional view on line 12 12 of Fig. 5; Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the. contact actuator governed by the lock and a cam member pertaining thereto, these parts being shown in separated relation; and Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit arrangement.

The support employed for the switching mechanism is preferably inclusive of a body of insulation in the form of a cup having a side wall 1 and a rear or bottom wall in integral formation. The front metallic end wall 3 of the casing constitutes a closure that is placed upon the rim of the cup and is held in assembly with the cup by means of the prongs l extending rearwardly from said end wall and projecting into engagement with shoulders 5 formed upon the (5K- terior of the side wall 1. of the casing. The cup shaped body of the casing is desirably cylindrical and the front end wall 3 of the casing has a lock opening (5, generally circular and coaxial with the casing. The cylindrical hollow lock member 7 is carried by the front end wall 3 of the casing and projects into the casing interior. In the preferred embodiment of the invention. the wings 8, located upon the end wall 3 at the opening 6 through this end wall, project into spaces 9 formed in opposite sides of the lock member 7 in front of the bead 10 on this look member whereby said lock member is held from rotation. The bead 10 engages the inner face of the casing end wall 3 and the ears 11 upon the front end of said lock member are clinched outwardly and back wardly against the front face of the casing wall 3, whereby said lock member is held from movement along the axis of the casing. The lock member 'Z thus stationary her being thus a tumbler barrel.

or in lixed relation with the front casing end wall 3, is formed with openings 12 in opposite sides thereof. A rotatable lock member 13 is journalled by and within the hollow lock member 7 the lock member 13 having shoulders 14 which engage the ears 15 upon and projecting inwardly from the hollow look member 7 to prevent inward movement of the rotatable lock member. Outward movement of the rotatable lock member 13 is prevented by means of the ears 16 upon and projecting inwardly from the front end of the lock neinber 7 and which engage the shoulder 17 upon the front end of the lock member 13. Tumblers 18 are radially movable in openings formed in the rotatable lock member 13, this meni- These tumblers are controlled by a suitable key 19. When this key is inserted, the tumblers are withdrawn suiliciently into the member 13 to clear the lock member 7 so that the tumblers may be bodily turned to turn the lock member 13 and close the ignition circuit, as will hereinafter more fully appear. When the lock member 13 is turned back by its key to a position in which the tumblers are in register with the openings 12, theignition circuit is opened, and is locked open bythe tumblers when the key is withdrawn.

The contactzcarrier governed by the rotatable lockimember 13 is desirably constructed asshown most clearly at the right hand portion of Fig. 1-3 and in Figs. 3 and .4;andis-inclusiveof a metallic plate 20 formed with an oblong opening 21 conforming in shape to the inner end of the retatable lock member 13 so that, as thislock membenis..turned,. the plate 20 .is turned. The plate 20 is formed with a cylindrical skirt portion 22 from the free edge of which win s; 23' extend laterally. or radiall 7.

These. wingsa're; supplied with caps 24 of insulation, These-insulating caps are suppliedwith other caps 25, 2'6 and 27,, the

latter caps, beingwmetallic and constituting integralpartsqof a metallicring 28 ,tjhat is coaxialswith the, plate;20 and lock member 13. The. caps 25, 26 and 27 constitutev con- -tacts,.t he-end wall 2 of the. casingcarrying contacts 259,v 30. and31coniplemental to said contacts 25, 26 and27. The circuits gov,- .eriied by all o'f-xthese contacts are diagrammatically. illustrated inFi'gj 14. The plate 20 of thecarrier for the contacts 25, 26 and 27 is sli-dable upon the lock member l3. This plate-hasa gseriesof cam formations 32,. constituting one cam member which are en a eable with another cam member 33 formed uponjthe forwardend. of a short tubular member; 34 that is secured to the. -rearcwall 2 of the casingbymeansofprongs 35..--:A.:spring 3.6 surroundsithelock member 13, this spring being received at its rear end in a cap portion 37 which is secured to the front face of the plate 20. The spring presses, at its rear end, against this cap and upon the plate 20 to hold the cam member 32 upon the plate in engagement with the stationary cam member 33. When the ignition circuit is to be opened or closed, the lock member 13 is correspondingly tinned until the crowns of the cam member 32 slightly pass the crowns of the cam member 33 whereupon the spring 36 will expand to snap the carrier for the contacts 25, 26 and 27, either into ignition circuit opening or circuit closing position.

The front end of the spring 36 is re ceiv-ed in a cup 38 which is carried by a metallic plate 39 that also surrounds the lock member 13. This plate 39 has a cylindrical skirt portion 4 0 which surrounds the inner end of the hollow lock member 7 and is slidable thereon. The plate 39 has cam portions 41 thereon, together constituting one cam member and the hollow lock member 7 has other cam portions 42 thereon, together constituting another cam member that is complemental to the first. lVhen the plate 39 is turned by the handle to change the adjustment of the lighting circuits, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the switching movements of the plate may be completed by the spring 36 when the crowns of the engaging cam members pass each other. Wings 43 upon the outer end of the skirt portion project laterally or radially away from the hollow lock member 7. These wings are providedL with insulating caps 44 that are desirably included in the formation of an insulating ring 45. These caps 44 are, in turn, provided with other caps 46, 47, 48 and 49 which are metallic spring 36.

A handle is coupled with th e contact carrier 39 by means of prongs oti project ing inwardly from the handle and passing through openings 57 in the 'end wall3 and through re cesses58 in the continuations 59 of the carrier 39. The handleis confined to substantially fixed plane of rotation by means of flange SO thatis snugly're ceived in a" space between thefront cas ng end wall 3 and the plate 61 which" is riveted upon theendufalL'S by means of the rivets 62 and which desirably serves as a mountmoses? lug plate for the switch casing and its contents. To the latter end, the mounting plate is extended radially beyond the casing and is formed to receive mounting screws 63 at its peripheral portion, these mounting screws serving to assemble the plate 61 with the dash board or other mounting panel G l. The hub portion of the handle is coaxial with the loci; member 13 and with a circular opening formed in the plate 61, the edge of this opening confining the handle to an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of the rotatable lock member 13. The hub portion of the handle has a lock opening 65 freely receiving the outer end of the lock memher 13.

The contacts 51, 52, 53 and 54 are, as stated, preferably formed of rigid strips of metal which pass through the casing wall 1 to have their inner ends engageable by the contacts 46, 7, l8 and 49, respectively. The outer ends of these metallic strips are clinched over the metallic bases 66 of metallic fuse clips 67 to have electrical connection with these fuse clips as well as to take part in anchoring them in assembly with the casing wall 1. The assembly of the clips 67 with the casing is completed by means of other metallic strips 68 which engage the. sides of the clip bases 66 which are opposite the sides engaged by the contacts 46, a7, 48 and a9. The remaining metallic fuse clips l?) are anchored to the casing by means of the rivets 70. The ear pieces 71 project from the clips with which they are in electrical connection these ear pieces receiving binding screws 72 which are employed to connect the fuses 78 in circuit, these fuses being electrically connected at their ends with the metallic caps 74:, 75 adapted for electrical connection with the clips 67 and 69 into which they are slipped.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A switch structure including a casing; a lock member upon an end wall of the easing and arojecting into the casing; a rotatable hey operated locking device adjacent and having an element engageable with said lock member; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn, the hub portion of the handle having a lock opening tl'icrethrough adjacent said lock member; a contact actuator in sliding engagement ith said rotatable locking device; a second contact actuator, the handle having a connection joining it with the second contact actuator and passing through an opening formed in said end wall; contacts governed by said actuators; contacts co1nple mental to the aforesaid contacts; a cam member carried by the rear end wall of the casing; a cam member upon the first actir ator complemental to the aforesaid cam member; a cam member carried by said loch member; a cam member upon the second contact actuator and complemental to the latter cam member; and a spring pressing said contact actuators to engage the cam iembers thereon respectively with the remaining cam members.

2. 1L switch structure including a casing; a lock men'iber upon an end wall of the casing and projecting into the casing; a rotatable key operated locking device adjacent and having an element engageable with said loch member; a handle upon the eXte rior of the casing and mounted to turn, the hub portion of the handle having a lock opening therethrough adjacent said lock member; a contact actuator coupled with said rotatable locking device; a second contact actuator the handle having a connection joining it with the second contact actuator and passing through an opening formed in. said end wall; contacts governed by said actuators; contacts complemental to the aforesaid contacts; a cam member carried by said lock member; a cam member upon the second contact actuator and complemental to the aforesaid cam member; and a spring pressing the second contact actuator to enthe cam member thereon with the other cam member.

3. A. switch structure including a casing; a hollow lock member upon an end wall of the casing and projecting into the casing; a rotatable, key operated locking device adjacent and having an element within and engageable with said lock member; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn, the hub portion of the handle having a lock opening therethrough adjacent said lock member; a contact actuator in sliding engagement with said rotatable locle ing device; a second contact actuator the handle having a connection joining it with the second contact actuator and passing through an opening formed in said end wall; contacts governed by said actuators; contacts complemental to the aforesaid contacts; cam member carried by the rear end wall of the casing; a cam member upon the first actuator complemental to the aforesaid cam member; a cam member upon the second contact actuator and complemental to the latter cam member; and a spring pressing said contact actuators to engage the cam members thereon respectively with the rc maining cam members.

4:. A switch structure including a casing; a hollow lock member upon an end wall of the casing and projecting into the casing; a rotatable, key operated locking device adjacent and having an element within and engageable with said lock member; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn, the hub portion of the handle having a lock opening therethrough adjacent said lock member; a contact actuator coupled with said rotatable locking device; a second contact actuator, the handle having a connection joining it with the second contact actuator and passing through an opening formed in said end Wall; contacts governed by said actuators; contacts: complemental to the aforesaid contacts; a cam member carried by said lock member; a cam member upon the second contact actuator and coinplementai to the aforesaid cam member; and a spring pressing the second contact actuator to engage the cam member thereon with the other cam member.

in Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

